PROTEST BY VISITOR

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 150, 22 March 1934, Page 8

PROTEST BY VISITOR

Shaw’s “Repeated Sneers” PATRIOTISM OF DOMINION “May I. as a Scottish visitor, be allowed to protest against Mr. Bernard Shaw’s repeated sneers at the sentimentality and patriotism of New Zealanders, and to repudiate, on behalf of my countrymen, the insinuation that we “at Home” are indifferent to the welfare of your Dominion.” writes the Earl of Weinyss, who is at present in Auckland, in a letter to the “New Zealand Herald.” “I yield to no one in my admiration for Mr. Shaw’s literary genius.” continues the Earl, “but literary genius does not necessarily involve political wisdom, nor does a perfect literary style confer infallibility on the ‘obiter dicta’ of its possessor. A restless search for paradoxes must indeed often end in tlie utterance of statements and opinions which, to put it mildly, cannot bear examination. “Among tlie many pleasant impressions which a British visitor to New Zealand receives is continually hearing his native country called ‘Home.’ by New Zealanders. It is an obviously genuine expression, and strikes a responsive chord in the heart of every Briton who hears it. I trust Mr. Shaw’s ridicule will not in any way shake this sentiment. “This, however, is a matter which mainly concerns New Zealand. Mr. Shaw’s implication that Britons are indifferent to New Zealand is of much more importance to visitors to this country. Because one of his relations or friends wrote to Mr. Shaw thinking that Sydney was fortunate enough to bo located in New Zealand, Mr. Shaw infers that all Britons are equally ignorant, and that no interest in New Zealand is felt at Home. “Nothing could be further from the truth. Geographically the most remote of our Dominions. New Zealand is sentimentally nearest. Britain is proud of her connection with New Zealand. has a great belief in her future, and undying memories and gratitude for the part this country played in the war. “Mr. Shaw’s sneers at Empire sentimentality may find some sympathisers hero, and will, of course, find many at his ‘at Home,’ in Ireland; but ‘at Home’ in Britain, his implication that Britain is indifferent to New Zealand will be merely regarded as one of Mr. Shaw’s quips which are intended to deceive no one, least of all himself.”